A building “pets for vets” campaign to link troubled war veterans with abandoned pets in shelters won a huge White House backing Wednesday when Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, hosted an unprecedented West Wing meeting to get key Cabinet officials on board.
In an hour-long Roosevelt Room session hosted by Trump, top presidential aides, two cabinet secretaries, House lawmakers pushing legislation on the issue and the president of the Humane Society of the United States pledged to take the therapy dog campaign nationwide.
Honored to attend a WH round table yesterday discussing helping both veterans & homeless dogs simultaneously – more to come, stay tuned! ?? pic.twitter.com/CV0I7LXVFH
— Lara Trump (@LaraLeaTrump) October 19, 2017
“It was really Lara Trump’s deal,” said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president, of Eric Trump’s wife. “It was a positive, constructive area where so many people who are concerned about dogs and our service members can unite and achieve something really great for animals and for people,” he added.
Trump, long a passionate campaigner for animals, was joined by presidential advisor Kellyanne Conway, and brought in Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Rep. Ron DeSantis, author of the PAWS Act, and others together to show support for efforts to help warriors suffering from PTSD and other ailments by teaming them with shelter animals.
Humane Society of the U.S. President Wayne Pacelle, center, said the goal of pets-for-vets is to save veterans and shelter animals. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
Zinke attended because he has a policy allowing dogs at the office, and is also a retired Navy SEAL leader.
Trump has lobbied with Pacelle on several animal rights issues.
“She wanted to get it on the radar screen of the White House,” Pacelle said of the importance of hosting the meeting inside the West Wing.
During the meeting, a veteran who was accompanied with his service dog said, “my dog saved my life.” He served three tours, on in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, center right, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, center left, attended the meeting.
DeSantis, an Iraq veteran, called his legislation, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members, an anti-suicide bill. He said the dogs give comfort to hurting veterans. It would pair trained service dogs with veterans who have post-traumatic stress. It has a five-year cost of $10 million and be run by Veterans Affairs.
Pacelle told Secrets, “this is a life and death issue for some of these vets. And for animals that are going to be killed, it’s a life and death issue for them too. And if those animals can be trained, some will be just companions, but if some can be trained you can save the animals and you can save the veteran. What a fabulous outcome for everybody.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
